Plymouth earns ‘Park’ championship with dramatic win over Salem

 Plymouth earns ‘Park’ championship with dramatic win over Salem

Plymouth senior Cam Short rips off a substantial run Friday night against Salem.

If the results of a handful of plays would have been reversed for the Plymouth and Salem football teams through their first seven games, the prize for the winner of Friday night’s P-CEP match-up may have been a ticket to the post-season.

As it turned out, the Wildcats (1-6 heading into the game) and Rocks (2-5) were playing solely for Plymouth-Canton Educational Park bragging rights — probably the next-best thing to qualifying for the MHSAA playoffs.

In a game featuring several wild plays — a textbook hook-and-lateral touchdown by Salem, a game-deciding forced fumble by Plymouth and a rare non-contact safety on a punt play — Plymouth prevailed 16-14 to capture its third consecutive “Park” title.

Salem players bust through a Pink Out banner minutes before the game
Salem players bust through a Pink Out banner minutes before the game

Both teams defeated Canton earlier in the season, setting up Friday’s compelling clash.

(To check out video highlights from Friday’s game, click here.)

“This feels awesome because it’s the third year in a row we’ve won ‘The Park’ championship,” said Plymouth senior captain Cam Short, who was a two-way contributor in Friday’s victory.

Special rivalry

“This is a different kind of rivalry because we all go to school with each other, so Plymouth earns bragging rights for the next year.

Plymouth senior Preston Kocoloski sacks Salem QB Luke Creighton
Plymouth senior Preston Kocoloski sacks Salem QB Luke Creighton

“We suffered two heart-breaking losses in back-to-back games (before Friday), so it feels really good to bounce back and win this.”

Short contributed a momentum shifting interception when he picked off a first-quarter Salem pass in the Red Zone. The pick seemed to energize the Wildcats, who marched down the field and scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper by senior Logan Pheiffer to seize a 7-0 lead (after Daniel Vigo’s extra point).

The rare safety unfolded with 22.3 seconds remaining in the first half when Salem punter Aidan Moore’s knee touched down in the end zone while fielding a low snap, extending Plymouth’s lead to 9-0 heading into the half.

Moore, Moore, Moore

Moore was fantastic in the second half for the Rocks, cutting their deficit to 9-7 with 8:28 left in the third quarter when he sprinted 66 yards to the end zone (Kai Prinzevski booted his first of two extra points).

Aidan Moore takes off on a long run
Aidan Moore takes off on a long run

The Rocks appeared primed to take the lead with 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter when junior quarterback Luke Creighton connected with senior receiver Jordan Perko, who dashed 40 yards into the Plymouth red zone before Wildcat junior linebacker Max Hornbacher jolted the ball out of Perko’s grasp.

Hornbacher recovered his own forced fumble to stymie the Rocks’ promising drive.

Plymouth stretched its lead to 16-7 with 5 minutes left in the contest when Pheiffer rifled a perfect 50-yard TD pass to Brendan Seed to make it 16-7.

The never-say-quit Rocks completed a perfectly-executed hook-and-lateral touchdown play on fourth down with 2:05 left. Creighton rifled an 8-yard strike to Nye Turner, who caught the ball then lateraled it to Moore, who sprinted own the home sideline to bring Salem to within 16-14.

(Watch Salem’s perfectly-executed hook-and-lateral TD play by clicking here.)

Max Hornbacher brings down Aidan Moore
Max Hornbacher brings down Aidan Moore

The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Plymouth to seal the deal.

Catch of the year?

Turner delivered the catch of the night — and maybe the season — when he corraled a first-half Creighton post-pattern pass with one hand near mid-field.

“I feel great for the seniors,” said Plymouth Head Coach Greg Souldourian. “Our guys went into this game expecting to win, they trusted the process and finished the game. It may have been ugly at times, but a win is a win.

“Salem is a heckuva team. They’re better than 2-6. Aidan Moore is a dude and that hook-and-lateral play they ran was perfectly executed.”

Souldourian said Short’s early-game interception helped set the tone.

“I told Cam before the game to get his hips around when he was dropping back in coverage and there’s going to be a time when he’ll be in the passing lane and they won’t see him,” Souldourian said. “Even though he’s a linebacker, he may have the best hands on the team, so I knew he wasn’t going to drop it.”

Winning without their RB stud

Pheiffer rushed for 47 yards on 14 carries and completed 5 of 11 passes for 118 yards.

Luke Creighton unleashes a pass
Luke Creighton unleashes a pass

Junior running back Ethan Soper, who was filling in for injured workhorse Nick DeKiere, gained 105 yards on 16 carries.

Hornbacher registered eight tackles in addition to his fumble recovery. Joe Portman added one tackle and five assists, while LaRon Davis had four tackles and an assist. Hayden Schultz contributed a drive-ending first-half sack for the ‘Cats.

Creighton completed 12 of 24 passes for 178 yards. Moore ran for 99 yards and two TDs.

Plymouth will cap its season Friday night by hosting Westland John Glenn. Salem will close its season by hosting Livonia Churchill.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.

Logan Pheiffer finds daylight on a QB keeper
Logan Pheiffer finds daylight on a QB keeper

Ed Wright

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